Statement by General Sir Richard Dannatt - RUSI Chairman

8 October 2009 - "Although I handed over the appointment of Chief of the General Staff on 28 August this year, I do not leave the active list of the Army until 22 November 2009. David Cameron has invited me to assist his Defence team by becoming a working Conservative peer sometime after 22 November. I am accepting this invitation in the hope that I am able to continue to contribute to an area of national life that has been my vocation for the last 40 years. Defence of the realm, the safety of our citizens and the well-being of the Armed Forces, now and in the future, is of paramount importance.  I am grateful for this opportunity to continue to serve the nation, subject to the completion of the appropriate procedures."

Notes to editors

1. General Sir Richard Dannatt became chairman of the Royal United Services Institute in September 2009.
2. Media enquiries should be directed to Daniel Sherman at the RUSI Press Office: 020 7747 2617 or daniels@rusi.org